The Down Low: What is it about drinking beer on an open roof top that seems to enhance the experience exponentially? Maybe it’s the summer breeze, coupled with the music and friends that you’re gathered with that make it feel like it’s gonna be a fun night in downtown Cincinnati. Or maybe it’s the fact that every time you go back, the beer selection is new and exciting, with names that are simple and to the point, yet offer very little insight into what style they are until you try them. Or maybe it’s just because Rhinegeist has one of the coolest looking logos out there, as the “Ghost of the Rhine” always remains blank-staring and stoic, despite the ever-changing myriad of colors and patterns around him…

Go into any craft beer store in Ohio that carries a decent selection and you’re almost guaranteed to see at least a few different types of Rhinegeist on the shelf. They make so many different styles of beers, and pump them out year-round at such a furious pace, that it’s often difficult to keep up. In fact, without the aid of the Untappd app, we’re pretty sure that most of the time, we wouldn’t remember which ones we’ve had and which ones we haven’t. Most of the more common styles such as the IPA’s, pale ales, blonde ales, etc. will be found in cans, our favorite of which is Truth, due to its hoppy and citrusy character notes. However, some of the other styles, such as the stouts, DIPA’s, TIPA’s, and barrel-aged beers, will be found in 22 oz. bombers. They are a bit pricier, but are worth a try if you’re looking to branch out a bit. They even produce a few ciders, with some hoppy and dry options to satisfy varying palates.

Situated in the historic Over-the-Rhine district of Cincinnati, the Rhinegeist brewery is located in an unassuming spot. After driving past it once without seeing the vertical sign hanging out front, my wife and I were still unsure if we were at the right place, even after parking and beginning the descent up a narrow stairwell in what felt more like a parking garage than a brewery. However, there was no mistaking it a few seconds later, as the stairs deposited us in a large, open room that had 2 different bars, huge fermenting tanks guarded by the ever-present ghost, and a smattering of tables and corn hole boards.With a vibe that could be best described as “industrial,” it seems to fit the downtown area perfectly. You get the feeling that you’re in an old warehouse, yet the mood is more of a laid-back college party than anything else. After a couple flights of beer and a few merch purchases for Zack and myself, we finished up on the rooftop bar which overlooks the surrounding neighborhood. If the weather is nice when you visit, make sure to check this out as well, as the bar outside has a few other beer options that the inside bars didn’t have.

With a city like Cincinnati (which, by the way, hosts the second largest Oktoberfest in the world, second only to Munich itself), you’re sure to find food and beer options galore to explore. Just make sure that Rhinegeist brewery is on your list…you don’t want that ghost staring you down if you don’t.